Your smartphone dying at a crucial moment, a dead laptop right before an important meeting... We've all felt that panic. Fortunately, the power bank (also known as a portable charger) has become the essential accessory for staying connected in any situation.
But with an overwhelming number of options on the market, it's hard to know where to start. Capacity in mAh, power in watts, ports, compatibility... We'll break down the jargon for you and present our selection of the best models to help you make the right choice.
Before diving into our top picks, let's review the key factors to consider when finding the power bank that perfectly suits your needs.
The milliampere-hour (mAh) is the unit that measures a battery's energy reserve. Simply put: the higher the number, the more power you'll have to recharge your devices.
Having a large capacity is great, but charging fast is even better! The charging speed, expressed in watts (W), is just as crucial. It determines how quickly your devices will get fully charged.
From theory to practice! Here are three models that caught our eye, each catering to very different needs.
Why it stands out: The TORRAS MiniMag is all about portability and discretion. With its credit-card-sized footprint and a thickness of just 1.45 cm, it's the ideal everyday companion. It magnetically attaches to the back of MagSafe-compatible iPhones, and you'll barely notice it's there.
Key Features:
Who is it for? iPhone owners (12 series and newer) looking for a discreet and stylish top-up charging solution to get through the day without extra bulk.
Why it stands out: This Belkin model is the perfect travel companion. With its generous 20,000 mAh capacity and an integrated USB-C cable, it's an ultra-practical, all-in-one charging solution capable of powering up to three devices at once.
Key Features:
Who is it for? Travellers, families, or anyone who needs a reliable and versatile portable charger to power their smartphone, tablet, and headphones for several days without worrying about finding an outlet.
Why it stands out: This VARTA power bank isn't just a charger; it's a true portable power station. Its colossal 140W power output and massive 27,000 mAh capacity allow it to charge your mobile devices—and most importantly, your laptop—without breaking a sweat.
Key Features:
Who is it for? Digital nomads, content creators, and anyone who needs a super-powerful energy source to quickly charge a laptop, drone, or any other power-hungry device.
Our selection is, of course, just a snapshot. The power bank market is filled with models that cater to very specific needs, whether in terms of design, weight, or features.
If none of these models caught your eye, feel free to explore our complete collection of Fast-Charging Power Banks to find the perfect one.
It all depends on your usage. For a simple daily top-up, 5,000 to 10,000 mAh is more than enough. For travel or heavy use, aim for 20,000 mAh or more. Finally, to power a laptop, a capacity of 20,000 mAh is the minimum, with 27,000 mAh being ideal for peace of mind.
Yes, but with conditions. Most airlines limit the capacity to 100 watt-hours (Wh) per battery. Crucially, they must be carried in your cabin luggage and never in checked baggage. Rest assured, almost all power banks on the market, including 20,000 mAh and 27,000 mAh models, comply with this limit. To check, the formula is: (mAh / 1000) x V = Wh (the voltage V is typically 3.7V).
Power Delivery (PD) is a universal fast-charging protocol that uses the USB-C connector. It allows the charger and the device to "communicate" to determine the optimal charging power, ensuring a charge that is both much faster and safer than with a standard USB port. It's THE feature to look for in a proper fast-charging power bank.